Improvement in manufacture of artificial fuel



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WM. A. BRADLEY AND JACOB BIGELOW, OF WASHINGTON, D. C.

IMPROVE MENT IN MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No- 22,410., dated December28, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. BRADLEY and JACOB BIGELOW, ofWashington, in the District ofGolumbia, have inventeda new and usefulmethod of treating coal and preparing it for use, of which the followingis a specification.

First. The nature of our invention consists in pulverizing the crudecoal as it comes from the mines, heating and mixing it with thefollowingsubstances,and then compressingitinto blocks for use as fuel.

Second. When the coal is so pulverized by any suitable powerful machineit is placed in vats or pans of fire-proof material and heated to asufficient degree, when we mix withit the following articles andquantities, according to the character of the coal:

Bituminous coal: Benzole, one gallon to one ton; coal-tar, twentygallons to one ton; green-wood tar, fifteen gallons to one ton rosin,one hundred pounds to one ton; saltpeter, ten pounds to one toncoal-oil, five gallons to one ton; naphtha, three gallons to one ton.

Anthracite or hard coal Benzole, three gallons to one ton; coal-tar,thirty gallons to one ton; green-wood tar, twenty gallons to one ton;rosin, two hundred pounds to one ton; saltpeter, twenty pounds to oneton; coal-oil, ten gallons to one ton 5 naphtha, four gallons to oneton.

Charcoal Benzole, five gallons to one ton coal-tar, forty gallons to oneton green-wood tar, thirty gallons to one ton; rosin, three hundredpounds to one ton; clay, three hundred and fifty pounds to one ton;saltpeter, five pounds to one ton; coal-oil, twenty-five gallons to oneton naphtha, ten gallons to one ton.

Third. When the coal is thus prepared it is then placed in a powerfulsteam-press and formed into blocks, bringing it back to its naturalstate of density before it is mined-say twenty-seven cubic feet to theton. Crude coal, that is called the run of the mines, occupiesforty-seven feet cubic to the ton. Consequently when compressed anddried as above there will be a saving of twenty cubic feet in a tonstowage on board of a ship or steamer, which alone is of greatimportance to the mercantile marine; also, when coal is thus prepared itwil stand any climate or water, 8m.

Fourth. This article of coal possesses many very important qualities.Thus it requires no artificial draft, less smoke-stack, makes but littlesoot, little or no clinkers or ashes, burns with a rapid smooth flame,will not honey- I comb the boilers, will raise steam in two-thirds ofthe time of any other fuel, and it will burn one-halt'longer. Thereis nocoal-dust or waste to be thrown overboard, like as in crude coal. Itrequires less firemen and less attention to it. Another importantfeature is that when stowed in the coal-bunkers of a steamer of warduring an action a shot will not pass through it and reach or causeinjury to her machinery.

Fifth. We consume the fine coal from the mines, that is lost to theminer, in preference to the lump-coal, thereby enhancing the value ofthe mines.

We claim-- The manufacture of artificial fuel made from refuse bituminuscoal, anthracite, or charcoal, as set forth, combined with thesubstances herein described, the whole made in the manher and for thepurposes set forth.

W. A. BRADLEY. J. BIGELOVV.

W'itnesses: v

JAMES P. LEVY, J. EVERTON HAWLEY.

